Releasable container lid lock



Sept. 2, 1969 M. GREITZER ET AL 3,464,582

RELEASABLE CONTAINER LID LOCK Filed Oct. 9, 1968 INVENTORS. Mae/91sGEE/7'25}? 5 S/MQ/v xs/rzsk A at? United States Patent O US. Cl. 220-6013 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates tocontainers that are closed by a removable lid that is adapted to snapover and/or clinch onto the peripheral lip of the container vessel.Permanent deformation of the mating configurations is virtuallyeliminated while providing a reliable lid to vessel lock that ispositive when installation is made. With the present invention at leastone and preferably a plurality of cam-lug and lock means areincorporated in the vessel lip and lid perimeter, to either supplementor replace the usual frictional engagement of the mating lid to vesselengagement. Also, it is a sealed engagement that is maintained when thelid is locked to the vessel, the lip of the vessel being a head orrolled edge that is embraced in a complementary channel in the matinglid. The channel is undercut so as to hook over the lip and have asnap-on action, and the cam-lug and lock means enhances the matingengagement of the lid and vessel by affording positive retention untilthe application of deliberate manual deflection of the lock means andwhich in the preferred form involves the use of resilient material inthe formation of the lid so as to enable reuse.

The prior art containers of the type under consideration involve avessel with a reinforced lip and a lid with a channeled periphery tomate onto said lip. The vessel is either fabricated of metal with arolled lip, or it is molded of plastic with an enlarged bead for a lip,and in either case the lip is convexly rounded to merge with the insidediameter of the container. The lid is fabricated of metal with a formedchannel, or is molded of plastic with an undecut channel for snap-onembracement onto the lip of the vessel. The present invention hasapplication to all containers of the above general description and isparticularly utilitarian with containers that employ lids of resilientmaterial, such as plastic lids; the advantage being that unlimited reuseis then made possible. However, the use of deformable material is notprecluded when circumstances require that a lid not be resealed whenonce removed from the vessel, in which case a lid of malleable metal orthe like can be employed thereby reducing the possibility of reuse. Inall cases the vessel can be made of any suitable material, the cam-lugsthereon being static in nature, the lock means on the lid being movablerelative thereto.

An object of this invention is to provide a removable lid on a vesselthat is normally locked thereto in a positive manner, and subject toremoval through manual deliberation only. Accidental displacement of thelid from the vessel is precluded, while deliberate removal of the lid isfacilitated even to the extent that supplemental tools and/or implementsare not imperatively necessary.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container vessel andlid combination wherein securement in sealed engagement is positive, allwithout the addition of parts and with all necessary featuresincorporated in the existing two elements that are made for use one withthe other. With the present invention, the necessary features comprise acam-lug on one element and a lock means on the other element and in eachcase formed integrally ice with the element with which it is associatedand carried.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a containervessel and lid having the features and advantages hereinabove referredto and which is removable. With the present invention the lid inparticular is made of a resilient material having the necessary memoryso as to return to its originally fabricated shape, and beingsufiiciently deflectable or bendable so as to be manipulated into areleasing condition, all as hereinafter described.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical container and lid combinationincorporating the lid lock of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a planview taken as indicated by line 22 on FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary section taken as indicated by line 33 on FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is asectional view taken as indicated by line -44 on FIG. 3. And, FIG. 5 isa view similar to FIG. 3 showing a second form of the invention.

The releasable container lid lock L is shown applied to a typical unitvolume bucket or pail-type container B. In the preferred form the lid orclosure C is reuseable on the container B, in which case the lid C ismade of a resilient plastic material. Likewise it is preferred that thecontainer B be made of a like or the same plastic material. However, itis to be understood that the bodies of material from which the containerand lid are made can vary widely as circumstances require, the inventioncomprising generally the lid lock L involving a cam-lug 20 on thecontainer body and a lock means 30 on the lid body.

The bucket vessel or container body B is of the usual cylindricalconfiguration, having a disc-shaped bottom 10 and an upstanding sidewall 11. The side wall 11 can be flared as it extends upward toward theopen top of the container where the wall terminates in a lip 12 thatreinforces the open end of the container and that provides the matingconfiguration to receive the lid C with sealing engagement. A typicaland most practical lip 12 is rollshaped or a bead that extendstangentially from the inner diameter of the container wall 11. In thecase of a sheet metal construction the lip 12 is a rolled formation ofthe container wall 11 that uniformly curves upwardly and outwardly, thenoutwardly and downwardly, and further downwardly and inwardly, andsometimes inwardly and upwardly to approach the outside diameter of thewall 11 (see FIG. 5). In the case of a molded construction the lip 12 isa bead continuing from the container wall 11, curved as above described,and either solid or cored (see FIG. 3). In either case the lip 12 isessentially toroidal in configuration with a smooth uninterrupted anduniformly rounded exterior.

The container closure or lid C is of the usual disc configuration havinga circular top 15 and peripheral rim 16 to overlie the lip 12 of thecontainer B. The rim 16 is provided with a downwardly opening annularchannel 17 complementary to and adapted to closely fit and embrace thelip 12. The channel 17 is undercut by extending it inwardly from itsouter diameter, and so that its outer peripheral extremity depends andunderlies the lip 12 to have clinching engagement thereover.Consequently some frictional securement is established by a snap-onengagement of the lid C with the lip 12 of container B.

In accordance with the invention we provide the camlug 20 and lock means30 comprising the lid lock L, and these elements are features integrallyincorporated in the container B and lid C respectively, although areverse position of these elements can be practiced. Preferably, thecam-lug and cooperative lock means comprising the lid lock L isrepeatedly employed at intervals around the lid C, for example at threeequally spaced positions and each of which is alike or identical so thata description of one sufiices for all others. As a consequence the lid Cis positively locked down at circumferentially spaced intervals 120apart in addition to the ordinary clinching action hereinabovedescribed.

The cam-lug 20 is a static element preferably formed as part of thecontainer B and is a radial projection extended laterally from the lip12. The cam-lug 20 can radiate either inwardly or outwardly and is shownas projecting outwardly so as to be outside the sealing engagement ofthe sealing lip 12 in the channel 17. In practice, the cam-lug 20extends from the outermost peripheral extremity of the lip 12intermediate and preferably midway between the top and bottom thereof'The camlug 20 is of nominal but substantial circumferential extent asshown and is characterized by its downwardly disposed shoulder 21immediately adjacent to the major diameter of the lip and at saidintermediate midway point above referred to. In the case of sheet metalconstruction the cam-lug 2t) and its shoulder 21 is formed by striking atab out of the wall of metal forming the lip, and in which case thenormal end of the tab is inclined outwardly and upwardly to establishthe shoulder 21 while the outer side 22 of the tab is inclined to mergewith the rolled lip 12. The outer side 22 thereby establishes adownwardly and outwardly inclined cam face. In the case of a moldedcontainer construction the cam-lug 20 and its shoulder 21 is formed bycasting a projecting extension forming the lip, and in which case theshoulder 21 is a horizontally and downwardly faced step immediatelyadjacent to the major diameter of the lip 12, and the outer side 22 isan inclined face convexly curved to merge with the rounded bead of lip12. The radial projection of the cam-lug 20 can be equal to the wallthickness of the lid C as shown, or it can be more or less ascircumstances require, depending upon the amount of deflection permittedby the lid C to move the lock means 30. In any case, the shoulder 21presents a substantial downwardly faced stop shoulder while the side 22presents an inclined cam face. The ends 23 of the lug 20 can be normaland suitably merged with the lip as shown.

The lock means 30 is a movable element preferably formed as part of theclosure or lid C and is established by a radial Opening enteringlaterally into or through the depending peripheral portion of the rim16. The opening is complementary to the cam-lug 20 and accommodates saidlug so as to permit it to enter into or through the opening. Inaccordance with the invention the opening of lock means 30 has anupwardly faced step 32 engageable with the shoulder 21 when the lid C isin sealed engagement with the lip 12. In FIG. 3 the engagement isparallel to the plane of the lid C whereby locking force is normal tosaid plane; while in FIG. the engagement is inclined to the plane of lidC whereby locking force is increased by cam action as the rim 16 ispulled radially inward.

In accordance with the invention the lock means 30 as it is hereinabovedescribed is incorporated in the depending rim 16 of the lid C withoutenlargement of the same. The cam-shaped side 22 assures a spreadingaction of a portion of the rim 16 as and when the lid C is depressedonto the lip 12, after which the rim 16 snaps over the lip 12 and theopening of lock means 30 engages over and accommodates the cam-lug 20.In the event that a malleable lid C is used then the rim 16 is reformedonto the cam-lug 20 as by a hammering process. Or preferably in theevent that a resilient lid C is used, then the rim 16 is snapped overand into locking position as above described.

When three lid locks L are employed it is a simple matter to install alid C by hooking one or two lid locks and by then snapping the remainingone or two into positive engagement. In order to remove a lid C thereverse process is practiced wherein the rim 16 at and surrounding onelid lock L is manipulated to shift the lock means radially outward andupward to disengage from the cam-lug 20, whereupon the lid C is simplylifted off of the remaining two lid locks L, thereby separating the lidC from the container B.

Having described only the typical preferred forms and applications ofour invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to thespecific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art:

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A releasable container lid lock for a removable lid having adepending periphery engageably encompassing a circumferential lipdefining the open end of a container, and including, a lug incorporatedin the lip and projecting radially from the circumference thereof, andlock means comprised of a complementary opening in the dependingperiphery of the lid and engageably receiving the lug, the dependingperiphery being outwardly bendable for removal of the lock means openingfrom the lug and releasing the lid from the container.

2. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe said lug presents a shoulder faced away from the open end of thecontainer, and wherein the said opening in the depending periphery ofthe lid presents a seat faced toward the open end of the container forlocking engagement with the lug shoulder.

3. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe said lug has an outer side inclined radially outward and terminatingat a shoulder faced away from the open end of the container, and whereinthe depending periphery of the lid engages the inclined outer side ofthe lug until the said complementary opening registers with the lug andpresents a seat faced toward the open end of the container for lockingengagement with the lug shoulder.

4. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe said lug presents a shoulder faced away from the open end of thecontainer and inclined radially outward and toward the open end of thecontainer, and wherein the said opening in the depending periphery ofthe lid presents an inclined seat faced toward the open end of thecontainer for flat locking engagement with the lug shoulder.

5. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, andwherein the removable lid is made of resilient material and the bendabledepending periphery returned to its initial form in locking engagementwith the lug.

6. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe said lug presents a shoulder faced away from the open end of thecontainer, and wherein the said opening in the depending periphery ofthe lid presents a seat faced toward the open end of the container forlocking engagement with the lug shoulder, and wherein the removable lidis made of resilient material and the bendable depending peripheryreturned to its initial form in locking engagement with the lug.

7. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe said lug has an outer side inclined radially outward and terminatingat a shoulder faced away from the open end of the container, and whereinthe depending periphery of the lid engages the inclined outer side ofthe lug until the said complementary opening registers with the lug andpresents a seat faced toward the open end of the container for lockingengagement with the lug shoulder, and wherein the removable lid is madeof resilient material and the bendable depending periphery returned toits initial form in locking engagement with the lug.

8. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe said lug presents a shoulder faced away from the open end of thecontainer and inclined radially outward and toward the open end of thecontainer, and wherein the said opening in the depending periphery ofthe lid presents an inclined seat faced toward the open end of thecontainer for flat locking engagement with the lug shoulder, and whereinthe removable lid is made of resilient material and the bendabledepending periphery returned to its initial form in locking engagementwith the lug.

9. A releasable container lid lock for a removable lid having adownwardly opening channeled rim embracing a circumferential lipdefining the open end of a container, and including, :1 lug incorporatedin the lip and projecting radially from the circumference thereof, andlock means comprised of a complementary opening in the depending outerperiphery of the channeled rim and engageably receiving the lug, thesaid depending periphery of the channeled rim being outwardly bendablefor removal of the lock means opening from the lug and releasing the lidfrom the container.

10. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 9 andwherein the removable lid is made of resilient material and the bendabledepending outer periphery of the channeled rim returned to its initialform in locking engagement with the lug.

11. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 9, whereinthe said lug presents a shoulder faced away from the open end of thecontainer, and wherein the said opening in the depending outer peripheryof the channeled rim presents a seat faced toward the open end of thecontainer for locking engagement with the lug shoulder, and wherein theremovable lid is made of resilient material and the bendable dependingouter periphery of the channeled rim returned to its initial form inlocking engagement with the lug.

12. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 9, whereinthe said lug has an outer side inclined radially outward and terminatingat a shoulder faced away from the open end of the container, and whereinthe depending outer periphery of the channeled rim engages the inclinedouter side of the lug until the said complementary opening registerswith the lug and presents a seat faced toward the open end of thecontainer for locking engagement with the lug shoulder, and wherein theremovable lid is made of resilient material and the bendable dependingouter periphery of the channeled rim returned to its initial form inlocking engagement with the lug.

13. The releasable container lid lock as set forth in claim 9, whereinthe said lug presents a shoulder faced away from the open end of thecontainer and inclined radially outward and toward the open end of thecontainer, and wherein the said opening in the depending outer peripheryof the channeled rim presents an inclined seat faced toward the open endof the container for flat locking engagement with the lug shoulder, andwherein the removable lid is made of resilient material and the bendabledepending outer periphery of the channeled rim returned to its initialform in locking engagement with the lug.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1963 Renje. 11/ 1967 Collie.

GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner

